Civil engineering is, without a doubt, one of the best careers in the United States. And this isn’t just because you have the potential to earn up to $90,000-120,000 per year, but also because you’ll contribute greatly to your society. Besides, this is a highly secure occupation since we will always need new infrastructure even when there are economic downturns.
Given this information, you more than likely have strengthened your resolve to enter the civil engineering space. So, what should you do? Here are 5 tips to guide you towards your goal.
1. Research a Lot to Understand This Profession
Before starting your career as a civil engineer, you need to understand fully what you are getting yourself into. One of the most important things you should know is that this profession will bring you into contact with various fascinating subjects and disciplines.
You will need an advanced understanding of physics, mathematics, and natural forces. That’s why you have to take a pre-licensing course, and even after this, you will need to earn PDH Credits by continuing your education when renewing your licence. In addition to the technical knowledge, you also have to develop soft skills so that you can interact and collaborate with different stakeholders better.
2. Take Advantage of Open Day Events
Engineering open days are crucial as you try to find the best point to begin your career. You will learn a lot in these events, from the best institutions to join as you start your career to the best employment opportunities to seek after acquiring your licence.
Additionally, these events give you perfect chances to expand your network. Even if you are already in an engineering role, you will know how your existing experience can help you qualify for civil engineering.
3. Understand the Learning Paths That Exist
There are various learning paths and opportunities you can leverage to not only get into civil engineering successfully but also enjoy continued success. In most cases, you will need to meet basic educational requirements, such as completing a course or degree in civil engineering. However, that’s not the only thing you need to do as far as education goes. You can also benefit greatly from apprenticeship programs, especially when it comes to hands-on skills. As mentioned before, it’s always a good idea to continue your education even after getting licensed. In truth, this is a mandatory requirement in many states.
4. Consider a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
Taking a degree to support your goal of becoming a civil engineer goes a long way, especially if you want to take on more advanced projects. A majority of bachelor’s degrees will take you approximately 4 years to complete, and in the case of civil engineering, these will help you master crucial topics like math, architectural design, engineering principles, and other important subjects.
A bachelor’s degree provides the basic knowledge you need to build on later when you reach a point where you can specialise. In addition to pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you also want to consider taking your master’s degree as it will help you acquire the skills you need to tackle advanced engineering tasks. When shopping for the ideal courses, prioritise the ones that offer learning options like distance learning or part-time courses. This helps you balance learning with your employment and personal life.
5. Invest in the Right Experience
Your education will only become useful if you can put it into practice as soon as possible. In most cases, you will have to gain work experience through an internship during summer breaks to meet degree requirements. Such opportunities are crucial not only in helping you apply what you’ve learnt but also in providing key insights within specialised fields in the civil engineering world.
The good part about internships is that they pay, albeit not much. However, this shouldn’t worry you a lot, since this is just an opportunity to learn. This is also usually a great time to decide on the specialisation you are interested in. Some of the fields you can focus on include:
- Structural engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Land development
While these aren’t the only areas you can specialise in, they will give you an idea of what the main fields are.
Simplify Your Journey to Civil Engineering
If you’ve been wondering whether you should focus on becoming a civil engineer, the answer is a solid Yes! Not only is this one of the most stable forms of employment you can find, but it also offers other benefits, such as the satisfaction that comes with seeing the impact your work is having on society.
RocketCert, one of the top professional education providers, makes your journey to civil engineering easier by providing expertly written and fully narrated online pre-licensing and continuing education courses. With these, you can finally enjoy studying your way into your dream job!
